It's hard to think of Saints left tackle Jammal Brown as a developmental project, because he received so much attention and recognition early in his career.

A first-round draft choice in 2005, Brown went from the All-Rookie team that season to the All-Pro team a year later.

But heading into Year 4, the 6-foot-6, 313-pounder still is trying to tap into the potential that had people wondering if he might become the next Willie Roaf.

"I still have a lot of improving to do, even from '06 when I made the Pro Bowl," said Brown, whose progress was interrupted last summer by a knee injury that kept him out of the final four preseason games.

"The injury is no excuse," he said, "but I kind of got behind, mentally and physically. So this year, I just made a point to come in early in the offseason, to get my body right and to be an all-around better player."

Brown started working out at the team's practice facility a month before players were scheduled to report in March, joining a group of about four or five guys with strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple in those early days. Brown said he was determined to get stronger since he's "not one of the biggest tackles," and he stuck to it throughout the spring and summer.

Coaches and teammates have taken notice. Sean Payton said Brown has had his best offseason in the past three years, and left guard Jamar Nesbit said he's become a lot more physical.

"He worked his butt off this offseason to get stronger, and I know a lot of people kind of criticized him for that," Nesbit said. "And on the mental side of it, he's become more comfortable in his third year in this system, and now he's just really focusing on his technique.

"As he goes, we kind of go. So as he gets everything straight and continues to ascend, everything will come together."

There was a report that Brown's name came up in trade talks before the draft, but Payton insisted at the time that the Saints had no plans to part with their left tackle.

Brown said the first time he heard those rumors was when General Manager Mickey Loomis called to tell them they weren't true.

"He said, 'Have you heard anything?' And I was like, 'No,'¤" Brown said. "And he said, 'Well, if you do hear anything, it's not happening.' So I was like, 'All right.'¤"

Brown has always been a laid-back, mellow guy.

Even though he's a man of few words, he's the player most likely to provide his teammates with some comic relief away from the field.

"He's going to make you laugh somehow," Nesbit said. "Whether it's on purpose or on accident, he's going to make you laugh."

But when it comes to football, Brown said his approach is always serious.

"I've always been around winning programs, from college and high school, and being here. So I always put a lot of pressure on myself to take the coaching and do what needs to be done, and maybe even a little bit more," said Brown, who began his college career at Oklahoma as a defensive lineman before moving to right tackle during his sophomore year.

He played right tackle with the Saints as a rookie before moving to the left side in 2006.

"I try to be real specific. I try to practice everything I'm coached, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it done," Brown said. "And I think that's how you've got to approach it if you're going to be any good."

Brown admitted that last year was a down year for him. He wasn't consistent, and he was plagued a few times by false start and holding penalties.

Offensive line coach Doug Marrone said the key for Brown is to give that disciplined effort on a consistent basis, and he said it's helped him to go against defensive ends Will Smith and Bobby McCray throughout training camp. That includes a few practices against Texans defensive end Mario Williams last week.

"I always like it when we can get him tired fast," Marrone said. "You want to see Jammal when he's tired, going out here and playing against Will Smith and Bobby and pushing through those points. Not just when he's fresh.

"And I think I've seen a person that's probably more knowledgeable in what he wants from himself. I just think he's starting to understand things more. He realizes where he has to be in order to be successful."

Mike Triplett can be reached at mtriplett@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.